Antenna coupling device for mobile terminal

Abstract

An antenna coupling device for a mobile terminal adapted to couple, to a terminal body of the mobile terminal, an antenna unit including an antenna housing adapted to be coupled to the terminal body, and an antenna extending through the antenna housing into the terminal body at an inner end. The antenna coupling device includes an antenna coupling member rotatably fitted in the antenna housing at one end of the antenna housing facing the terminal body, and engaging elements for selectively engaging the antenna with the antenna coupling member to restrain the antenna coupling member by the antenna, causing the antenna coupling member to be coupled to an antenna bushing provided at the terminal body in accordance with rotation of the antenna.

1. An antenna coupling device for coupling an antenna unit to a terminal body of a mobile terminal, the antenna unit including an antenna housing adapted to be coupled to the terminal body, and an antenna extending through the antenna housing into the terminal body at an inner end thereof, comprising:
 an antenna coupling member rotatably fitted in the antenna housing at one end of the antenna housing facing the terminal body; and 
 restraining means for selectively engaging the antenna with the antenna coupling member to restrain the antenna coupling member by the antenna, thereby causing the antenna coupling member to be coupled to an antenna bushing provided at the terminal body in accordance with rotation of the antenna. 
 
   
   
     2. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the antenna coupling member is fitted, at one end thereof, in the antenna housing while having, at the other end thereof, threads to be threadedly coupled to the antenna bushing. 
   
   
     3. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the antenna coupling member is made of a metal material. 
   
   
     4. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the antenna coupling member has a stopper radially protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the antenna coupling member near one end of the antenna coupling member fitted in the antenna housing, and adapted to prevent the antenna coupling member from being separated from the antenna housing. 
   
   
     5. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an annular reinforcing member interposed between the antenna housing and the antenna coupling member, and adapted to reinforce a coupling force of the antenna coupling member. 
 
   
   
     6. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 5 , wherein the annular reinforcing member is made of a metal material. 
   
   
     7. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the restraining means comprises:
 a rod-shaped stopper provided at a portion of the antenna positioned near an antenna stopper formed at the inner end of the antenna, the rod-shaped stopper having a predetermined length and a polygonal cross-section; and 
 a stopper bore formed at one end of the antenna coupling member and having a polygonal cross-section corresponding to that of the rod-shaped stopper, and adapted to be engagable with the rod-shaped stopper, whereby the antenna and the antenna coupling member can rotate simultaneously. 
 
   
   
     8. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 7 , wherein the antenna coupling member is formed with an inclined guide surface at one end of the stopper bore positioned toward the other end of the antenna coupling member, the inclined guide surface being adapted to come into contact with an end of the rod-shaped stopper opposite to the other end of the antenna coupling member, thereby guiding the rod-shaped stopper into the stopper hole. 
   
   
     9. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 7 , wherein the polygonal cross-section is a regular hexagonal cross-section. 
   
   
     10. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the restraining means comprises:
 a rod-shaped stopper provided at a portion of the antenna positioned near an antenna stopper formed at the inner end of the antenna, the rod-shaped stopper having a predetermined length and being provided at a circumferential surface thereof with a plurality of first protrusions extending longitudinally along the rod-shaped stopper, and a plurality of first grooves each arranged between adjacent ones of the first protrusions; and 
 a stopper bore formed at one end of the antenna coupling member, the stopper bore being provided at a circumferential surface thereof with a plurality of second protrusions extending longitudinally along the stopper bore, and a plurality of second grooves each arranged between adjacent ones of the second protrusions. 
 
   
   
     11. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 10 , wherein the rod-shaped stopper has a star-shaped cross-section. 
   
   
     12. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 10 , wherein the protrusions and grooves are symmetrically formed, and each of the protrusions is provided with inclined surfaces. 
   
   
     13. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 7 , wherein the rod-shaped stopper has a size such that the diameter of a circumscribed circle thereof is larger than the diameter of the antenna. 
   
   
     14. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 7 , wherein the antenna coupling member has a circular bore extending axially from the stopper bore through the antenna coupling member while serving to receive the rod-shaped stopper separated from the stopper bore when the antenna is retracted into the terminal body, the circular bore having a diameter larger than a diameter of a circumscribed circle of the rod-shaped stopper to prevent the antenna coupling member from being restrained by the antenna. 
   
   
     15. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 10 , wherein the rod-shaped stopper has a size such that the diameter of a circumscribed circle thereof is larger than the diameter of the antenna. 
   
   
     16. The antenna coupling device according to  claim 10 , wherein the antenna coupling member has a circular bore extending axially from the stopper bore through the antenna coupling member while serving to receive the rod-shaped stopper separated from the stopper bore when the antenna is retracted into the terminal body, the circular bore having a diameter larger than a diameter of a circumscribed circle of the rod-shaped stopper to prevent the antenna coupling member from being restrained by the antenna.